Jessica Jacobsen

When my husband and I find that rare occasion in which we are able to go out and enjoy an evening of dinner and drinks, he usually has better foresight than I do about what meal to select.

If you ask Janie Hoffman how chia has impacted her life, you’ll notice her face light up with excitement as she shares what those little seeds have done for her health and well-being and why she wanted to share that same passion with a broader community.

Hollywood has shown both the endearing side of robots, such as in Walt Disney’s “Wall-E,” and the more feared versions from the “Terminator” franchise.

As beverage-makers continue to develop new products to meet consumers’ needs, health and wellness has become a built-in expectation.

The convenience and ease of online shopping is one that I’m sure many U.S. consumers have been happy to take advantage of.

American consumers’ desires for organic products continue to gain steam. According to data from the Washington, D.C.-based Organic Trade Association (OTA), sales of organic products reached $35.1 billion in 2013, an increase of 11.5 percent compared with the previous year.

With all the buzz surrounding health and wellness, vitamin fortification remains a popular topic in the consumer market. The readers of Beverage Industry also seem interested in the topic, as 60 percent of voters named VitaminFizz the best new product that was posted on www.bevindustry.com during the month of August, making it the winner of the publication’s August Readers’ Choice New Product of the Month poll.

At any time of day, a quick scan of a train or bus would likely reveal at least one or two people on their mobile devices — particularly smartphones. Around the world, more consumers are turning to smartphones for their mobile needs.

A longtime favorite topping for ice cream desserts, cherry also has found its niche within the beverage industry.

As you take the time to read my column this month, I ask that you take a minute to think about what you have consumed within the last 24 hours.